Overview

How does affordable and workforce housing become a reality in today’s challenging economic and political environment? What role can design and new policies play in overcoming barriers to providing new affordable housing?

This forum will highlight recent innovations in building design and policy. Bay Area architects, developers, and planners will provide strategies and lesson-learned about how design and new policies can help provide successful affordable and workforce housing.

-current obstacles to achieving affordable housing objectives and how members of the panel have overcome challenges such as restrictive zoning, neighborhood opposition, lack of incentives and lack of strong public-private cooperation.

- Successful strategies used throughout the Bay Area to implement affordable housing projects, such a context based design, modular construction and teacher housing.

- Affordability by design is planning and design that supports successful integration of affordable and workforce housing including accessibility to transit, architecture and urban design elements, use of materials, public spaces, art and internal circulation.

- Case studies of affordable and workforce housing throughout the Bay Area

- Lessons learned from built projects such as integration into their neighborhoods and surroundings, acceptance from the community, ability to make an impact on the lack of affordable options

- Interactive forum with panelists and audience members to ensure a lively session

Anticipated Outcome / Goal:

Learn about design and planning innovations that increase the feasibility of building affordable and workforce housing. Engage in thoughtful discussion about utilizing these strategies in Bay Area communities. Discuss new opportunities.

Speakers

Kevin Griffith

Invited Speaker

Kevin is Director of Business Development at BRIDGE Housing. For BRIDGE Housing creating homes is at the core of what they do. They are working to produce innovative, multi-dimensional developments that serve many communities and neighborhoods in diverse ways. Read More

Kevin is Director of Business Development at BRIDGE Housing. For BRIDGE Housing creating homes is at the core of what they do. They are working to produce innovative, multi-dimensional developments that serve many communities and neighborhoods in diverse ways. Read Less

David Baker

David Baker studied at UC Berkeley and earned his Master of Architecture in 1982. In that same year he founded San Francisco-based David Baker Architects, and in 1996 was selected as Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. The firm has received more than 180 architectural design awards and honors ... Read More

David Baker studied at UC Berkeley and earned his Master of Architecture in 1982. In that same year he founded San Francisco-based David Baker Architects, and in 1996 was selected as Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. The firm has received more than 180 architectural design awards and honors, including six national AIA awards.
David Baker has been honored as the Non-Profit Housing Association’s Visionary and Innovative Leader in Design and was chosen by the AIA California Council as the 2012 Distinguished Practice. In 2009, he received the Hearthstone Builders Humanitarian Award, being honored as one of the 30 most influential people in the housing industry of the past 30 years. Read Less

Kate Hartley

Invited Speaker

Kate works at the Mayor’s Office on Housing and Community Development for the City of San Francisco. Read More

Kate works at the Mayor’s Office on Housing and Community Development for the City of San Francisco. Read Less

Amit Price Patel

Invited Speaker

Amit (AIA, LEED AP) is Principal at DBA. HAs experience with several building types and urban design, but is primarily interested in sustainable, affordable housing. Amit has won or been on several international design competitions. Read More

Amit (AIA, LEED AP) is Principal at DBA. HAs experience with several building types and urban design, but is primarily interested in sustainable, affordable housing. Amit has won or been on several international design competitions. Read Less